Reel or swift



Aug; 9,-1927. H. P. LEE

' R2131. OR SWIFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1924 Aug. 9,1927. H PLEE 1,63 ,586

REEL OR SWIFT Filed Dec. 4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

i an *s'r assess HARRY P. LEE, OF CEANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TOUNIVERSAL WINDIN COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

REEL R SWIFT.

Application filed. December 4, 1924. Serial No. 753,948.

' This invention relates to an improved reel or. swift .for holdingskems or hanks of thread, yarn and other materials to accomtoward eachder it convenient to contract the reel in whatever position it may beheld. v y

Another object of the improvement is to provide a reelor swift of simpleand com pact construction having its operating mechanism completelyenclosed and pro tected fromoutside interference.

Another object of the improvement is toprovide a reel or swift in whichthe operating mechanism is more durable in use an proof againstderangement or getting out of order, V

Another object of the improvement'is to ,provide a reel or swift whichmay be economically manufactured to produce t at low cost.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth. in the followingspecification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated by the accompanying drawings. "In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my'nnproved reel or swift;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional VlGW' of the hub of the'reel takenthroughits axis; JFigx-Bv is a View of a section of the hub of the reeltaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. .2 looking in .thefdirection indicated byarrow m and showing it with the end-disk or annulus removed;

Fig. 4: is a similar. view illustrating the manner in which thehub-members; are rotated with respect to" each. other. to bring theirspokes together to contract the reel to facilitate and' V r-Fig. 5is-aflview-of- .asectionofthehub taken onthe 1ine 5-5, of Fig. 2 lookingin thedirection indicated by arrow, j

prises in preferably constructed other in either direct-ion to reny disk3 l to the placing ofv the skein thereon;

Referring first to Fig. 1' of the" drawings, 1

the present improved reel or swift comgeneral a central naveor-hub-member 2 having-end-disks 3 which areprovided with sockets forone set o-f arms or spokes d, p

and a pair of outer relatively rotatablehubof spokes 6. The mainhub-member 2' is of wood, fiber or composition and is; reduced indiameter at disks 5 formed wlth sockets for a second set its center, orshaped like a spool, to reduce ;its weight while'providing a solid andsub p The member 2 is bored p axially to receive a spindleor shaft 7which i stantial structure.

turns freely therein and projects from its ends to receive the outerspoke-mountings 'orhub-disks 5 secured fast thereon. The

ends of: the spindle"? are preferably turned down or reduced in diameterto ifornrtrun-v 1110118 S'adapted to serve as journals for rotatablymounting the reel in its bearings.

The hub-disks 5am constructed of. metal,

preferably of aluminum, and between them and the central hub-member 2are thesimilar intermediate spoke-carrying disks .Each inner. hub-disk 3is constructed. with a web 9. which supports an. overhanging annularflange 1 0 having holes for receiving the tapered wooden spokes l. Theends of the spokes 4 fit into sockets 11, constituted by enlargements orribs 12 formed on the face of the. web 9; Theinterior walls of thebores'or sockets 1 1 are preferably formed with blade-like projections13 on their oppo-. a

site sides whichare arranged atan angle helically inclined with respectto the. bores.

' When the spokes are forced intotheir bores with a twistingor turningthrust the blades 13 bite into the wood andflgrip ,thespokes to securethem against dislodgmentf fSuitable screws 15 having theirheads:eounter-' sunk into the face of the webs 9 are scr wed into thecentral hub-member2 to fasten the disks 3 fast onthe GIldSjtllGIfGOf..As illustrated in Fig. 2, the annularflange; {10 over:

,hangs therearward' sideof theweb 9 of the a rimgl6 whichfits intogroove or edge of the. member 2,,thus Centering the .disk'fon the .hubandtproviding smooth jointbetween theparts l form rabbet 1'1 on thecircumferential The disks3 are formed withakial 18 of larger diameterthantheshaftlorspin 1 dle .7, whereby topi'ovi'de pockets for helicalpin 01s l d eiw g is i'spindler Within?" 7 :pose zas;later:,explained.The inner endor l 7 site side of the disk 3 with its end engagedtheir-ends extending radially therefrom it being herenoted that thesprings are coiled or wound in opposite directions for a purradial leg21 ofeach spring is anchored and held laterally in a groove 22 formed inthe rearward face of the web 9 of its respective disk 3, see Fig. 5.

The outerend or leg 23 of each spring 20-projectsacross thetlat face ofone of the socket-ribs 12 on the oppopin "24 which holds the springunder tension. The springs 20 provide resilient -means for maintainingthe outer end hubs on disks 5 in position with their spokes 6 spacedequidistantly from the spokes 4 on 'the ?central hub-.member 2, whileallowing the disks to be rotated to contract the reel in the manner andfor the -inatter more fully explained.

purpose ashere- The endemembers or disks 5 are preterably constructed of7. aluminum with axial hubs 25 having spokes 26 which arebored radiallyto receive the wooden spokes or arms 6Q As with the inner disks 3,thebores 27.are provided with blades or splines 13' which engage the spokes6to retain them in place. The socketed spokes 26 support; overhangingannular rims 14 which abut the rims 10 on the-disks 3,thus.forming anextension of the main hub-member 2 and pro viding a smooth unbrokensurface on the exterior of thehub of thereel. The'hubs "2 5 ofgthe disks5*are provided with axial bores 28fitted to receiveqthespinclle '7-on I"whichthey are secured rotatively bymeans of set-screws 29'. Theset-screws 29 "are screwed into threaded bores -3 "Owith"theirendsengaging flatted portions31 on *the spindle 7; "Suitable pins 32driventhrough .theLdisks 5 pro'jeot laterally therefrom "in 7 position:to engage-the ends of the radial legs 23 of the springs20 whichsurround the spindle '7 within the bores 'otrthedi'sks =3;

*Referring now particularly to F ig- 1, my "improved reel is hereillustrated .as constructedwith three pairs ofopposi'te armsor spokes 4held in the disks 3 which are'mounted fast onthe ends ofthe centralhubqnember 2,. and three pairs of similar spokes 6 alternating withthose ofthe first set :and

7 carried by' the relatively rotatabledisks' 5. 7 "If desired,however,-'a greater'or lessnum- 'ber of spokesmay be employed. Thespokes'4land 6 are provided "at their outer'ends with notches .33 for;receiving 'loops 34 of twine or wire which connect "theopposite 'spokesof each pair and serve assup'ports or rests'a'cross whichthe skein isstretched 1n the usual mannerj The method of operating thereelto stretchthe skein thereover I 'isas nextjexplained. r

' "The operator grasps the reel .in: one hand 7 "with the fingers"enc'losingf two; adjacent spokes '4 and '6 at one end of the'hiib rnear.their points of joinder therewith. Then by closing the fingers togetherthe spokes are caused to be brought toward each other as the-outerhub-disks?) are turned or :rotated with respeetto the inner disks 3-andhub-, member 2. This action causes the pairs of .innerspokes 4 to beswung into substantial alinement with the alternating pairsof outerspokes fi so that the reel is partly collapsed to contract its outerperiphery. With the reel held contracted in this manner-in one'hand,'the operators other hand may be used to stretchthe skein'across'the cross-ties 34. Now, when the spokes of the reel are releasedthey will springbaok into extended relation to-draw the skein tautacross their j cross ties 34 to stretch its strands under the requiredtension. Thev reel may then be mounted to rotate tonnwind theinaterial Tfrom theskein by inserting its gudgeonsS in suitable bearings as usuallyprovided.

It will be understoodby reference to Fig. 2 that the disks or end-hubs 5carrying the spokes 6 maybe rotated in either direction with respect tothe'main' hub-member 2 and 3 carrying'the spokes 4. areturned in aclockwise itsattached disks l/ hen the disks 5 direction, viewing thereel from its-right will act on the leg 23 fingers on the spokes 'isreleased the'disks 5 will be turned back again to bring the spokes intonormal relation again. It is to be-noted from Fig. 3, howeverethat whenthe leg 23 5 of the'spring 20 has swung back to return the spokes tonormal relation it is restrained from rotatingthe disks 5fto anyfurther;ex-= :tent by its engagement with the stoppin'24- Y. a

on the diskf3p g V V Now, 111 the'same manner,the spring20 at theright-hand end of-thehub aots'to. control p the turning movement of thedisks 5 in ,a contra-clockwise d rection 'as -V16W6(l "from HUS-"811d inFig. '2. That is to'say," when the spokes-6 on the outer'disks'5-areswung toward the spokes4 by a rearward rotation of the disks I I at theright- 'handend ofkthe bribwillactto resist this turning-motion and willultimately turn the disks 5back again'toonce more bring the spokes 4andn6-intonor1nal rela 5 ;the leg 23 ,onthe spring '20 I tion'. -Stat'edbriefiy,,the direction f-aotion of the two springs'20 is opposedsothattheir force is normally balanced 'tomaintain the reel equidistantly"spaced allowing the two sets spokes of. the" 1 around the hubs, whileof spokes to 'be' shifted in 1 either direction to bring them togetherto contract :or. eel lapse thereel. 1

I directlon. Hence tlle operator might-grasp would be rendered moredifficult. With the the: spokes of the reel in such a way that theycould not be forced together and consequently would be obliged to shiftthe grip before the reel could be contracted. Considerabletime wouldtherefore be lost in operating the reel and in some cases both handswould have to be used so that the work v present'improvement any twospokes at one side of the hubmay be grasped and swung toward each otherso that the operation of collapsing the reel is accomplished moreexpeditiously without taking care to select certain properly'relatedspokes. The present reel may therefore be operated with one handinwhatever position grasped, leaving the'other hand free foradjusting'the skein or performing other work.

. As a further feature of the present improvement, theoperatingmechanism of the reel is completely enclosed to conceal it fromview and protect it from outside interference. It. will benoted thatthere are no projectin on the outside of the hub and arms ofv the.

reel, which would be liable to catch and snarl the yarn or thread intheskein, or to catch in the operators clothing or in] ure the hands.The operating parts being con-' tained in the hub of the reel areout ofthe way and protected from clisarrange1nent or getting out of order sothat the whole device is more efi'icient and durable in use,Furthermore, the mechanism is so simple and compact that the device mayeconomically at a relatively low cost. The

simplicity and compactness ofv the'mechanism also provides a reelofminimum weight which can be handled more easily, and which will rotatewith less resistance so that it may be used for unwinding skeins'of finedelicate material such as artificial silk or other gossamer threads.

While I have herein described and'illustrated a preferred form ofconstruction of the device,it is to be undei stood that variousmodifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its partswithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thereforewithout limiting myself in this respect, I claim: 7 v

- 1. A reel or swift comprising two sets ofalternating spokes with thespokes of one set adapted to be brought into closedrelation with thespokes of the other set to contract the reel,'a'nd res'lient meansacting in 0 wires, pins or othermechanical parts be manufacturedopposite directions to normally maintain the spokes in open relationwhile allowing one set to be rotated on the axis of the reelin eitherdirection with respect to the other set to bring the spokes intoproximity to partly collapse the reel, said'resilient means alsooperative to return the spokes to open rela-' tion after onese't hasbeen rotated withlre-l spect to tne other set to contract thereel. i I

2. In a reel or swift, the combination of ,a hub-membercarryingrelatively fixed spokes at its ends, disks rotatively mounted onthe ends of the hub-member and carrying spokes alternating'with thefixed spokes, and means for holding the disks in certain, relation withrespect to the hub member to maintain their spokes substantiallyequidistantly spaced from the fixed spokes while allowingione set I ofspokes to be rotated to bring'them into proximity withthe'spokes of theother set,

said means acting automatically to, effect a relative rotation betweenthe disks and hub ,to return the spokes toopen relation after they havebeen moved into. proximity to contract the reel.

3.. In a-reel or swift,the combination of a central hub-member, spokesprojecting ra-' dially disks rotatable at the ends of the hub-member,

spokes radiating. from the disks, and-opsp'okes substantiallyequidistantly spaced while allowing "relative rotation between the disksand hub-members in either direction to bring the spokes togethertopartly collapse the reel. I

4. In a reel or swift, the combination of a central hubcarryingradialspokes at its ends, disks rotatably-,mounted at'the endsof the hub, radial spokes carriedby the 1 I disks, and resilient meansfor holding the disks in, certain relation with respect to the hub tomaintain the spokes substantially spaced apart, said means act the disksto first position after equidistantly ing to return they have beenrotated with respect to the hub to bring the spokes into proximity tocontract the reel.

central hubcarrying radial spokes at its ends,

and resilient means for holding the disks and hub in predeterminedrelation to mainfrom theends of: said hubmember,

posed springs connecting the. disks with the hub-member and actingto'hold thedisks in certain relation therewith to maintain the disksrotatably mounted at the ends of the hub, spokes radiating from thedisks,

tain their spokes substantiallyequidistantly spaced effect relativerotation between'the disks and hub to return the spokes to normalposition after they have been moved into. proximity to contract thereel. I 1

6. In a reel or swift, the combination of a central hub, radial spokescarried by (the '1.

hub, an axialispindle projecting from the therearound, said meansactingto r y 5. In a reel or swift, the combination ofa I i I thedisksandihuh in either direction to bring the-spokes: into folded"relation, said. springs acting between the: hub and; thedisksto returnthe spokes to openzrelationafter; they have been closed: together.

I 7;)111 aireel-oryswiftflhe combination-.01"? a central hub, spokesradiating; from the ends of 'the hub a spindlerot'atable-in the hubandprojecting from its-ends, disks fast-.011

the ends of the spindle, radial spokes harried by said disks,and;springs,'coilediaroundzthe spindle iandi anchored. at: theirv inner.ends .to thehub with thein opposite. ends connected to-the disks tomaintainctheilatten With their spokes: equidistantly spaced: from the. Vspokes onthe hub While allow ing-airelative turning movement in eitherdirection. therebettveen to bring the spokes togetherto contract. the

I reel; said springs acting to :return the i spokes toopenrelation-after they have been closed I byrotating the disks" withrespect to the 1- iub. I

8;- In" areel or-swift; thecombination 01"? a central "hubcarrying;radial-spokes, anaxial spindle projecting;- through; the; hub;disks iastcen the ends of the, spindle, spokes radiate 111g, fromthe-disks, springs ,coiled around the gaging; the opposite ends of the},springsnto llOldjiJllQlllUHClGI tension, andmeanson the disks engaging;the springsto cause the latter spindle at, opposite ends 0;f 1tl18;l1l1b.With Y them inner ends anchored thei'eto',41neans.ien'- V toresistirotation of the disks'in eitherx dire.c.:- tion with respect tothe, hub,While also adapting the springs to. rotate, the disks, to

returnithespokes to openrelation after; they havebeen,closedtogether. vV

9,. In a reeL orswift, .the combination 0;.fi a

central; hub carrying:- radial spokes, an axial l spindle rotatable in;the hub dis-ks fasti-v on the endsof thespindle, radial jspokesflonithedisks, springs .coiled around the spindle-with their'innerends anchored;to,-.the.hub and shavingsrediallegsYahthein outen ends,means engagingthe legs to .lhold the springs-under tension, and means onethe disksengagedzby the legs oh the springs. to control; the: turn ing movement:.01? the disks in ieithen direction with respect-J:v to the hub and tocause.v the a disks toberotated bytheisprings toireturn the spokes toopenrelationiatter. they-hate V been closed together.

I111 testimony whereof- 1i hereunto affix: my signature. v v e HARM. P."en;

